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Ben in Parliament
Ben speaks regularly in the House of Commons on behalf of Ipswich people. As well as making speeches, intervening in debates and asking oral questions, Ben puts many written questions to ministers, which can be seen here. The list below is of Ben’s main appearances in the chamber of the House of Commons and in Westminster Hall, where small debates are held.
| Date | Subject | Summary | Read the speech | Watch the speech |
| 11th January 2012 | Energy Prices | Ben points out that a probe commissioned by the previous Secretary of State found that energy companies were not running a 'cartel' | ||
| 11th January 2012 | Energy Prices | Ben explains why energy prices have increased so drastically | ||
| 10th January 2012 | Local Government Finance | Ben criticises Labour's poor record on localising business rates | ||
| 10th January 2012 | Local Government Finance | Ben presses for a more localised system of taxation | ||
| 22th November 2011 | Horse Racing (Funding) | Ben speaks about the dangers of bookmakers going offshore | Coming soon | |
| 15th November 2011 | Bletchley-Oxford Rail Link | Ben explains how the investment in the Bletchley-Oxford rail link will help link the software development centre outside of Ipswich to other areas of excellence | Coming soon | |
| 15th November 2011 | Bletchley-Oxford Rail Link | Ben speaks about infrastructure improvements as part of the Greater Anglia franchise | Coming soon | |
| 2nd November 2011 | Legal Aid Reform | Ben argues that people in the UK on low incomes should not be subsidising the legal fees of those who can pay for it and who are convicted at a later date. He also argues against contingent legislation. | ||
| 26th October 2011 | Spending on social care | Ben argues that due to the pressures on social care, the Suffolk County Council spends more than the amount that was previously ring-fenced | ||
| 26th October 2011 | Recycling Rates | Ben explains that the coalition of Liberal Democrats and Conservatives in Ipswich raised recylcing rates more than in the 30 years that Labour held power | ||
| 11th October 2011 | Reoffending Rates | Ben asks what progress has been made towards putting into effect the policy of payment by results to reduce reoffending rates | ||
| 13th September 2011 | Reoffending Rates | Ben asks whether the the Department of Justice has considered the Justice Committee's recent recommendations | ||
| 11th September 2011 | Period of detention for prisoners | Ben argues that in some situations a suspect could be held for 14 days despite evidence to charge being available earlier | ||
| 12th July 2011 | Care Homes | Ben asks Paul Burstow MP, Minister of State for the Department of Health, to offer his reassurance that residents of Lombardy Park will be protected. | ||
| 28th June 2011 | Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill- Public Bill Committee | Ben clarifies a statement made by George Osborne. | ||
| 27th June 2011 | The Economy | Ben intervenes on the involvement of the private sector in the German health service | ||
| 27th June 2011 | The Economy | Ben speaks about an opposition motion on the state of the economy, one year on from the Emergency Budget | ||
| 27th June 2011 | Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill - Public Bill Committee | Ben asks Hazel Blears about the original estimates of Control Orders. | ||
| 27th June 2011 | Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill - Public Bill Committee | Ben argues that the government starts from a basis of liberty, before considering the needs of national security. | ||
| 23th June 2011 | Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill - Public Bill Committee | Ben clarifies a point on the police. | ||
| 23th June 2011 | Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill - Public Bill Committee | Ben discusses Julian Huppert's amendments to the Bill. | ||
| 23th June 2011 | Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill - Public Bill Committee | Ben asks the opposition to focus on the substance of the Terrorism Bill | ||
| 22th June 2011 | The Economy | Ben intervenes to correct a opposition member | ||
| 22th June 2011 | The Economy | Ben questions opposition statistics | ||
| 22th June 2011 | The Economy | Ben intervenes on Ed Balls | ||
| 20th June 2011 | Pensions | Ben urges the government to look closely at pension reform | ||
| 20th June 2011 | Pensions | Ben acuses an opposition member of jumping on the band wagon | ||
| 23th May 2011 | Sentencing | Ben speaks on sentencing reform. | ||
| 9th May 2011 | The NHS | Ben questions a Labour member on PFI contracts within the NHS | ||
| 5th May 2011 | The Bank Levy | Ben asks if the opposition are remorseful about paying off and knighting Sir Fred Goodwin | ||
| 27th April 2011 | Sure Start Children’s Centres | Ben supports Sure Start Centres and talks about his visit to the Tree House Centre in Ipswich | ||
| 27th April 2011 | Sure Start Children’s Centres | Ben asks Andy Burnham to apologise on behalf of Harriet Harman for misleading Ipswich people | ||
| 26th April 2011 | Finance | Ben supports an argument criticising the opposition's handling of the country's finances | ||
| 31th March 2011 | New Prison Contracts | Ben supports the government's plans to pay prisons by the rehabilitation results they achieve. | ||
| 24th March 2011 | Budget | Ben challenges Ed Balls on his understanding of the budget deficit. | ||
| 24th March 2011 | Point of Order | Ben asks the speaker about the procedure for discussing lying in the chamber. | ||
| 8th March 2011 | European Union | Ben discusses need to scrutinise ministers' negotiating plans in global organisations. | ||
| 2nd March 2011 | Sure Start Children’s Centres | Ben intervenes in a debate on Sure Start. | ||
| 10th February 2011 | Prisoners’ Voting Rights | Ben argues against giving prisoners the right to vote. | ||
| 3rd February 2011 | Consumer Credit | Ben intervenes on debate to comment on banks’ lending decisions. | ||
| 1st February 2011 | Foreign & Commonwealth Office Questions | Ben asks the Foreign Secretary about the future of the Middle East peace process. | ||
| 25th January 2011 | European Union | Ben supports government plans to guarantee referendum on any new EU powers. | ||
| 10th January 2011 | Local Government Finance | Ben presses for a more localised system of taxation | ||
| 10th January 2011 | Local Government Finance | Ben presses for a more localised system of taxation | ||
| 9th December 2010 | Tuition Fees | Ben speaks in Tuition Fees debate. | ||
| 3rd December 2010 | Daylight Saving | Ben intervenes in debate on changing daylight hours. | ||
| 25th November 2010 | Rail Investment | Ben asks the Secretary of State for Transport for better trains serving Ipswich. | ||
| 22th November 2010 | Financial Assistance to Ireland | Ben quizzes the Chancellor of the Exchequer on property owned by the Irish government in Ipswich. | ||
| 19th November 2010 | Public Services | Ben describes the challenges facing the Iceni Project in Ipswich. | ||
| 26th October 2010 | Transport Investment | Ben thanks the Transport Secretary for granting funding for new transport infrastructure in Ipswich. | ||
| 26th October 2010 | Missing Persons | Ben intervenes in Westminster Hall debate to highlight the case of Luke Durbin. | ||
| 20th October 2010 | Cabinet Office Questions | Ben asks cabinet office minister about Iceni. | ||
| 20th October 2010 | Independent Financial Advisors | Ben intervenes in Westminster Hall debate to argue for affordable financial advice for all. | ||
| 16th September 2010 | Strategic Defence and Security Review | Ben discusses the government’s choices in its defence review. | ||
| 15th September 2010 | Military Aviation Industry | Ben asks the Labour Party about their spending plans. | ||
| 15th September 2010 | Intercity Express Programme | Ben intervenes in Westminster Hall debate to argue for new trains for Ipswich. | ||
| 27th July 2010 | All Dualling | Ben speaks in a Westminster Hall debate in favour of dualling the A11. | ||
| 21th July 2010 | Building Schools for the Future | Ben intervenes in Westminster Hall debate to comment on schools’ capital funding. | ||
| 19th July 2010 | Academies | Ben intervenes to comment on attracting private school pupils into the state sector. | ||
| 19th July 2010 | Academies | Ben intervenes to comment on MP Tristram Hunt’s double-standards. | ||
| 12th July 2010 | Health Questions | Ben asks about hospital foundation trusts – which Ipswich Hospital hopes to be. | ||
| 6th July 2010 | Finance Bill | Ben’s Maiden Speech | ||
| 6th July 2010 | Finance Bill | Ben picks up a shadow minister on a misleading statement. | ||
| 6th July 2010 | Finance Bill | Ben asks the Chief Secretary to the Treasury about the gap between rich and poor under the last Labour government. | ||
| 5th July 2010 | Canterbury City Council Bill | Ben intervenes in debate on local authority trading restrictions. | ||
| 5th July 2010 | Education Funding | Ben asks the Education Secretary about the end of the Building Schools for the Future programme in Ipswich. |